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Just about forever, American politicians have been drawing odd-shaped election districts in an effort to give one political party an advantage over another. In 1812, the practice got a name: gerrymandering.

Republicans helped solidify their hold on the U.S. House when GOP legislators in key states drew new congressional maps after the 2010 Census. But was it geography or gerrymandering that gave Republicans an edge in state after state?

Even if Democrats recruit great candidates, raise gobs of money and run smart campaigns, they face an uphill fight to retake control of the House in this year's congressional elections, regardless of the political climate in November.

Americans voted for divided government. You hear it all the time in Washington, especially after voters in 2012 re-elected a Democratic president, a Democratic majority in the Senate and a Republican majority in the House.

Every 10 years, states must redraw the boundaries of congressional districts to account for population changes in the new census. Some states add House districts, while others lose them, but the total stays at 435.

Republicans are the party of the rich, right? It's a label that has stuck for decades, and you're hearing it again as Democrats complain about GOP opposition to raising the minimum wage and extending unemployment benefits.

Even if Democrats recruit great candidates, raise gobs of money and run smart campaigns, they face an uphill fight to retake control of the House in this year's congressional elections, regardless of the political climate in November.

Utah's seven-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson has brushed aside speculation that his decision to retire from Congress this year was spurred by fear he would lose his seat to a tough GOP challenger.